Body Image Issues in Patients With Colorectal Cancer: A Scoping Review

Stomas in colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors lead to body image problems. Advances in treatment help reduce the rate of stoma formation, but body image distress is still frequently experienced in CRC survivors.

This review is aimed toward mapping and describing the state of knowledge regarding body image in patients with CRC.

A systematic literature search complying with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines was conducted. Screening and data extraction were performed by 2 reviewers independently for all potentially eligible studies.

A total of 56 eligible articles were selected. The majority of these studies were quantitative studies (85%). The eligible studies were classified into 4 broad categories: instruments used to assess body image, prevalence of body image distress, factors related to body image, and impact of body image distress. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-CR38) colorectal questionnaire was the most common measurement tool found among the reviewed studies (70%), and body image distress was reported by 25.5% to 86% of participants. Excluding gender, age, type of surgery, adjuvant therapy, time from diagnosis, social support, and stoma status, changes in bowel habits was identified as affecting the body image of patients with CRC.

Changing bowel habits emerged as a significant factor causing body image distress for CRC survivors.

Clinicians should raise awareness about body image distress in patients with CRC, focus on finding effective measures and interventions intended to help alleviate symptoms of bowel dysfunction, and prepare patients to adapt to altered bowel functions.